People went on the journey westward for many reasons. Missionaries were a common sight. In fact, the Oregon Trail is this nation’s longest graveyard. The trail was popular until the transcontinental railroad connected the east to the west in 1869. In 1846, a newspaperman joins an Oregon Trail wagon train to verify rumors about the U.S. government sending troops disguised as settlers there in order to claim Oregon. Wagons are formed into a corral. Many people went to the Oregon Territory to get free farm land. It was populated by very few people. Later farmers took their families west in search of rich farm land. 1:00 pm: Back on the trail. Thereafter, migration on the Oregon Trail was an annual event, although the practice of traveling in giant convoys of wagons gave way to many smaller bands of … Quick Answer. Life, Locations & Lineage on the Oregon Trail People & Places on the Oregon Trail Pioneers wrote of their travels to Oregon, California, Utah, Montana, and other western locations in diaries, letters, remembrances, and newspaper articles. Moving to Oregon was a great way to get out of paying the government what they owed. Manifest Destiny was the key factor that led people to the west. Relevance. The main causes of deaths along the Oregon/California Trail from 1841 to 1869 were disease, accidents, and weather. While settlers traveled west along the Oregon Trail for a variety of reasons, most were motivated either by land or gold. Trappers first traveled the Oregon Trail. The Oregon trail helped many settlers cross to the west to make a better life. A COVID-19 Prophecy: Did Nostradamus Have a Prediction About This Apocalyptic Year? Portions of what was to become the Oregon Trail were first used by trappers, fur traders, and missionaries (c. 1811–40) who traveled on foot and horseback. The numbers alone are enough to chill. People traveled on the Oregon Trail in wagons in order to settle new parts of the United States of America during the 19th century.The Oregon Trail started in Missouri near the area where Kansas City, Missouri is today and ended in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The Oregon Trail created one of the largest mass migrations in human history. Great Britain also had claims in the Northwest and Mexico in the Southwest; the Bureau of Land Management hypothesizes that some settlers may have been motivated by patriotism to claim land for America. Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837. For example, it could have been for religious resons like Manifest Destiny and spreading their religion. One reason people went was for a spirit of adventure. Favorite Answer. Where did the Oregon Trail really go? Officially, according to an act of Congress, it begins in Independence, Missouri, and ends in Oregon City, Oregon. The Oregon Trail was never a clearly defined route. The answer is not simple, as there was no single route, just a destination: Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Where did people on the Oregon Trail want to arrive? Over 400,000 people travel West to start a new life and claim new land along the Oregon Trail, including Lucinda Brown. The people on the Oregon Trail wanted to go the Oregon territory, or what is now Washington and Oregon. 7:00 pm: Mothers do chores, men smoke and talk, young people dance. read more. The route started on the banks of the Missouri River, originally at Independence, then Westport, then Weston across from Fort Leavenworth. These letters often told about a good life on the frontier. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. The biggest factor that pulled pioneers west was the opportunity to buy land. Where did the Oregon Trail really go? The Oregon, Mormon Pioneer and California trails all cross Wyoming in the central and most popular corridor of the transcontinental migration of the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. Where did the Oregon Trail really go? Of the estimated 350,000 who started the journey, the trail claimed as many as 30,000 victims or an average of 10-15 deaths per mile. Pioneers had to exercise extreme caution and a lot of bravado to cross the 2,170 mile stretch of land starting in Missouri and ending in Oregon. Less famous but equally exciting at the time were other reports of gold being found in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado and other western states. 3. It crossed varied and often difficult terrain that included large territories occupied by Native Americans. The period 1843-1855 saw the heaviest traffic on the Oregon Trail. Which lead to leaving many people without money or in poverty. In short, mostly for the free land being given out via the Homestead Act and it’s associated laws and regulations. Well, that depends on how you look at it. The Oregon, Mormon Pioneer and California trails all cross Wyoming in the central and most popular corridor of the transcontinental migration of the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. As more and more people settled in the west, travelers set out to join their families. Various land acts in Oregon provided free land to pioneers, while the start of the California Gold Rush in 1848 lured thousands more. In the spring of 1843, a wagon train of nearly 1,000 people organized at Independence, Missouri with plans to reach Oregon Country. It adorns a recent Oregon highway license plate, is an obligatory reference in the resettlement of Oregon, and has long attracted study, commemoration, and celebration as a foundational event in the state’s past. Oregon Trail summary: The 2,200-mile east-west trail served as a critical transportation route for emigrants traveling from Missouri to Oregon and other points west during the mid-1800s. But many used canvas tents. President Jefferson had hoped for the country to develop into a nation of independent farmers who would work for modest means by the land. Why? 8 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ+ Inclusive, Fact Check: “JFK Jr. Is Still Alive" and Other Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About the Late President’s Son. The first migrants who used the trail reached Oregon in 1836, and by 1869 over 400,000 people had made the journey. Your email address will not be published. The first route followed the Santa Fe Trail into Kansas Territory. NOAA Hurricane Forecast Maps Are Often Misinterpreted — Here's How to Read Them. Lv 6. Over the next three decades, 300,000 people would cross the vast plains, travel over the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide, and struggle through Oregon's diverse terrain to reach Oregon City at the End of the Oregon Trail. Why did people go on the oregon trail? The number of deaths is difficult to calculate as most were buried in unmarked graves, but it is estimated that up to 30,000 people died during the 20-year migration along the Trail. The Oregon Trail was the main route that migrants used to travel from the east of the USA, to the west. Oregon Trail for kids John Tyler was the 10th American President who served in office from April 4, 1841 to March 4, 1845. Where did the Oregon Trail begin and end? They had races and played games such as Sheep Over the River, Hide and Seek, Pull the Rope, and Steal-Stick Duck-Stones. Why Did People Move West on the Oregon Trail? The first route followed the Santa Fe Trail into Kansas Territory. I don't know about all of them but my Great, Great grandfather and his wife and children came out to Oregon in 1852 because his teenage sons wanted to go … 3 Answers. The length of the wagon trail from the Missouri River to Willamette Valley was about 2,000 miles (3,200 km). Pioneer settlers were sometimes pulled west because they wanted to make a better living. In 1978, the U.S. Congress officially named the trail the Oregon National Historic Trail. Various land acts in Oregon provided free land to pioneers, while the start of the California Gold Rush in 1848 lured thousands more. Less famous but equally exciting at the time were other reports of gold being found in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado and other western states. The answer is not simple, as there was no single route, just a destination: Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Why did Americans want to travel ... dust, robbers and rough terrain, many thousands of Americans did go west. CEO Compensation and America's Growing Economic Divide. Why? The player assumes the role of a wagon leader guiding his party of settlers from Independence, Favorite Answer. By 1843, when the first large wagon train was organized, a route existed across the continent from Independence, Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies. It was most heavily used in the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s. While settlers traveled west along the Oregon Trail for a variety of reasons, most were motivated either by land or gold. Faced with the hardships of the trail, some people gave up and went back home. The route started on the banks of the Missouri River, originally at Independence, then Westport, then Weston across from Fort Leavenworth. Facts, information and articles about The Oregon Trail, a part of Westward Expansion from the Wild West. 1 decade ago. The Trail was about 2,170 miles (3,500 km) long, and could take up to six months to travel. The only available treatment in the game was a medicine known as laudanum—understood today to be pure opium. Why did so many people brave such a long journey past much other land where people now live and did live at the time? The Oregon Trail was the main route that migrants used to travel from the east of the USA, to the west. From start to finish, it took between five and six months, and it's hard to imagine today. The Oregon Trail was an actual path. The route started on the banks of the Missouri River, originally at Independence, then Westport, then Weston across from Fort Leavenworth. The Oregon Trail was made possible by President Thomas Jefferson and his purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803. One includes Beyond The Oregon Trail, an alternative curriculum created in 1999 by Oregon Uniting, a grassroots group focused on racial reconciliation. ... About 20,000 people died on the California Trail between 1841 and 1859 — an average of ten graves for every mile. Once this happened people saved up for the trip so they wouldn't have to pay the bank any owed money. For a modern trip along the Oregon Trail you won't need a covered wagon full of supplies. It had reliable rainfall, copious timber, and fertile soil. The people on the Oregon Trail wanted to go the Oregon territory, or what is now Washington and Oregon. The Oregon Trail was the only land route for settlers seeking to move west and took approximately four to six months, in contrast to the sea route which could take up to a full year. Some pioneers did sleep in their wagons. In popular culture, the Oregon Trail is perhaps the most iconic subject in the larger history of Oregon. Where did the Oregon Trail really go? How sleep habits may cut your risk of heart failure: Study Lv 6. The family owned a large farm in Illinois and a city block in downtown Danville, Illinois … It is estimated that more than 400,000 people used the Oregon Trail. It was an actual trail, mostly connected, created by Indians and trappers. I don't know about all of them but my Great, Great grandfather and his wife and children came out to Oregon in 1852 because his teenage sons wanted to go there for the adventure. The biggest causes of death were accidents and disease. The Oregon Trail was an actual path. Best Answers. Why did people go on the oregon trail? Taking the Oregon Trail was not an easy decision because of all the dangers on the trail … As wagons headed west, this trail became more defined. 3 Answers. The U.S. Supreme Court: Who Are the Nine Justices on the Bench Today? Everyone Has CholeraThe worst outbreaks occurred on the Oregon Trail in 1849, 1850 and 1852. Crossing rivers were probably the most dangerous thing pioneers did. mollyflan. Over 400,000 people travel West to start a new life and claim new land along the Oregon Trail, including Lucinda Brown. One historian noted that on a single day in June 1850 more than 6,000 people were on the trail. Emigrants moved in part due to the widespread economic depression of the 1830s and '40s, while others were fleeing the political turmoil of the Civil War. The Oregon Trail is a computer game originally developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger in 1971 and produced by MECC in 1974. To the settlers, though, the trail to the Oregon Country was a five-month trip from their old home in the East to their new home in the West. The Oregon trail helped many settlers cross to the west to make a better life. Factors such as the violent and unpredictable prairie storms could cause … Others received letters from friends or family members who had moved west. Some went hoping to find better health or better living conditions. Many travelers journeyed in companies, while others did not. The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings. About 200,000- 400,000 people crossed this trail by wagon. Answer Save. The Donner Party departed Missouri on the Oregon Trail in the spring of 1846, behind many other pioneer families who were attempting to make the same overland trip. Required fields are marked *. Oregon Trail: The Oregon Trail is the name given to the route followed by thousands of settlers who headed out to settle the western United States. Although much of the trail has been built over through the years, around 300 miles of it has been … Disease. Early trailblazers. Of the estimated 350,000 who started the journey, the trail claimed as many as 30,000 victims or an average of 10-15 deaths per mile. The real Oregon Trail was filled with about as many accidents and illnesses, and the National Oregon/California Trail Center says more than 300,000 Americans actually did travel along it at the end of the 19th century. Swollen rivers could tip over and drown both people and oxen. Many people went to the Oregon Territory to get free farm land. If you want something akin to the original experience, however, consider a road … Here’s one thing you can say about the lasting legacy of the Oregon Trail, a fact that has lodged the 2,170-mile migration in the minds of generations: The struggle was real.. Though the first emigrants to use the Oregon Trail arrived in 1836, the first large-scale mass migration did not occur until 1843 when an estimated 1,000 pioneers set out together. National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center | 541-523-1843 | oregontrail.blm.gov Why did people go to the Oregon Territory? While wagon trains frequently traveled together by choice, factors such as weather and trail conditions often resulted in unintended “bunching” along the route. The first major migration took place in 1843 when a single large wagon train of 120 wagons and 500 people made the trip. 6:00 pm: Families unpack and make supper. Dangers along the trail included water crossings, disease, accidents, and weather. Major threats to pioneer life and limb came from accidents, exhaustion, and disease. Introduction. First published by explorer Jedidiah Smith in 1825, it was the only practical way for migrants to make this journey. The answer is not simple, as there was no single route, just a destination: Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They made dolls from corn cobs and rags and used a bladder balloon for ball games. Another reason was just for the sense of fun and adventure. The main causes of deaths along the Oregon/California Trail from 1841 to 1869 were disease, accidents, and weather. Historians estimate that about 500,000 people followed trails like the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail. Amidst an overwhelming chorus of naysayers who doubted their success, the so … The Oregon Trail, which stretched for about 2,000 miles (3,200 km), flourished as the main means for hundreds of thousands of emigrants to reach the Northwest from the early 1840s through the 1860s. The player assumes the role of a wagon leader guiding his party of settlers from Independence, The Oregon Trail started in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City. Some went hoping to find better health or better living conditions. These letters often told about a good life on the frontier. After the discovery of gold in California in 1848, an even larger group of people set out on the overland trails for California. Source: octa-trails.org. 'Go West, young man, and grow up with the country,' goes the famous 1851 quote, and many young American men (and women) took the advice. There were several reasons why settlers went to the Oregon Country. Learn more about your nation's history with these 10 things about what life on the Oregon Trail was like. Despite the romantic depictions of the covered wagon in movies and on television, it would not have been very comfortable to travel in or sleep in the wagon. Fun Facts. why did they go ? The Oregon Trail was an east-to-west wagon route first established by fur traders in the 1830s. Americans' interest in Oregon and California country grew with each passing year, as the emigrants sent letters back home describing the region to their friends and family. The longest, steepest climb on the Oregon Trail, the hill had an even more dangerous descent. The Oregon Trail's nominal termination point was Oregon City, ... With literally thousands of people and thousands of livestock traveling in a fairly small time slot the travelers had to spread out to find clean water, wood, good campsites, and grass. because the letters and rumors of Oregon Territory's rich and natural beauty. Illnesses such as food poisoning, typhoid and, particularly, cholera were the primary causes of death for travelers on the Oregon Trail. 0 0. Some did camp on the ground—either in the open or sheltered under the wagon. One of the important events during his presidency was the journeys of the first settlers along the famous Oregon Trail. Tell the students the main reasons why some Americans left for the west:-Free land was available.-Freedom from slavery attracted many people.-Good land for farming meant more and better crops. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings. Answer Save. 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